Tracking system and method

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags. Each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags are: associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical professional within a medical facility, associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical patient within the medical facility, or associated with and configured to be attached to at least one medical device within the medical facility. Position information is generated concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility. Time stamp information is associated with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags. Time-based movement information is generated concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility. A time/proximity based level of performance is determined between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags, wherein each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags are:
 associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical professional within a medical facility, 
 associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical patient within the medical facility, or 
 associated with and configured to be attached to at least one medical device within the medical facility; 
   generating position information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility;   associating time stamp information with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags;   generating time-based movement information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility; and   determining a time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 modifying the appointment schedule of the medical professional based, at least in part, upon the time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient. 
 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2  wherein modifying the appointment schedule of the medical professional includes one or more of:
 increasing the length of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 decreasing the length of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 increasing the quantity of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 decreasing the quantity of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 increasing the density of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; and 
 decreasing the density one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional. 
 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient is based, at least in part, upon:
 the IR-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient; 
 the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient; and 
 the time stamp information associated with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient. 
 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional interacts with the at least one medical patient; 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional utilizes the at least one medical device; 
 the overall utilization efficiency of the medical professional; 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional is over-scheduled; and 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional is under-scheduled. 
 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags includes:
 receiving IR-based location information from a plurality of IR-based sensors positioned within the medical facility; and 
 receiving RFID-based location information from a plurality of RFID-based sensors positioned within the medical facility. 
 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6  wherein each of the plurality of IR-based sensors and the plurality of RFID-based sensors has a known location within the medical facility. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags, wherein each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags are:
 associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical professional within a medical facility, 
 associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical patient within the medical facility, or 
 associated with and configured to be attached to at least one medical device within the medical facility; 
   generating position information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility;   associating time stamp information with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags;   generating time-based movement information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility; and   determining a time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8  further comprising instructions for:
 modifying the appointment schedule of the medical professional based, at least in part, upon the time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient. 
 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9  wherein the instructions for modifying the appointment schedule of the medical professional include instructions for one or more of:
 increasing the length of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 decreasing the length of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 increasing the quantity of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 decreasing the quantity of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 increasing the density of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; and 
 decreasing the density one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional. 
 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient is based, at least in part, upon:
 the IR-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient; 
 the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient; and 
 the time stamp information associated with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient. 
 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional interacts with the at least one medical patient; 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional utilizes the at least one medical device; 
 the overall utilization efficiency of the medical professional; 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional is over-scheduled; and 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional is under-scheduled. 
 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the instructions for receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags include instructions for:
 receiving IR-based location information from a plurality of IR-based sensors positioned within the medical facility; and 
 receiving RFID-based location information from a plurality of RFID-based sensors positioned within the medical facility. 
 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13  wherein each of the plurality of IR-based sensors and the plurality of RFID-based sensors has a known location within the medical facility. 
     
     
         15 . A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags, wherein each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags are:
 associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical professional within a medical facility, 
 associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical patient within the medical facility, or 
 associated with and configured to be attached to at least one medical device within the medical facility; 
   generating position information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility;   associating time stamp information with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags;   generating time-based movement information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility; and   determining a time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient.   
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 15  further configured to perform operations comprising:
 modifying the appointment schedule of the medical professional based, at least in part, upon the time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient. 
 
     
     
         17 . The computing system of  claim 16  wherein modifying the appointment schedule of the medical professional includes one or more of:
 increasing the length of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 decreasing the length of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 increasing the quantity of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 decreasing the quantity of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; 
 increasing the density of one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional; and 
 decreasing the density one or more current or future appointments included within the appointment schedule of the medical professional. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein the time/proximity based level of performance between the at least one medical professional and the at least one medical patient is based, at least in part, upon:
 the IR-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient; 
 the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient; and 
 the time stamp information associated with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical professional and the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical patient. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional interacts with the at least one medical patient; 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional utilizes the at least one medical device; 
 the overall utilization efficiency of the medical professional; 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional is over-scheduled; and 
 the quantity of time that the at least one medical professional is under-scheduled. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags includes:
 receiving IR-based location information from a plurality of IR-based sensors positioned within the medical facility; and 
 receiving RFID-based location information from a plurality of RFID-based sensors positioned within the medical facility. 
 
     
     
         21 . The computing system of  claim 20  wherein each of the plurality of IR-based sensors and the plurality of RFID-based sensors has a known location within the medical facility.